Forsini and Aeronautic Share the Spotlight in Grand Hunter Championship Tie
Laena Romond, a trainer at Heritage Farm in Katonah, NY, and Forsini dominated on their first day of competition, winning all four of their classes across two divisions with three scores of 90 and one of 89. They placed third in the Green Conformation Hunter model class. Returning on Tuesday, they placed third in the Green Conformation Hunter Stake and won the Green Hunter 3’6” Stake with a score of 92. With an additional third place in the Green Conformation under saddle and a win in the Green 3’6” under saddle, they secured the championship in both divisions.
This is Forsini’s first year competing at the 3’6” height; Romond rode Forsini last year in the 3’3” Performance Hunters and they participated in the USHJA Green Hunter Incentive National Championships.
“I’m really proud of how consistent he’s become,” she said of the nine-year-old Warmblood gelding by For Pleasure. “He could be a little bit ‘aware’ in his first time at a new venue, so I was really proud that he was able to walk in and really, from the first round, deliver here.”
Standing at only 15.3 hands, Forsini is a careful jumper and a “blast to ride,” said Romond. “In the indoor, it felt like I could really work with pace and ride forward to the fences. He’s just a lot of fun to ride in the ring.”
This is Romond’s first grand championship at WIHS and to sweep ribbons along with two division championships was an abundance of riches.
“This is really a ‘pinch me’ moment to win against competition that I have such tremendous respect for and to be able to hold my own on a wonderful horse,” she divulged. “This is a pretty magical feeling.”
Geitner and Aeronautic continued a winning indoor season following their reserve championship at Pennsylvania National Horse show with the championship in the Green Hunter 3’9” division. They also won all four of their classes, which earned them the Grand Green Hunter Championship and the tie for Grand Champions.
“He walked right in from the first class and just felt at home in there,” said Geitner of the 10-year-old Warmblood gelding, “so we were hoping for good results.”
Geitner has competed Aeronautic for three years and also said that “Flyboy” has matured into a confident horse.
“He’s a beautiful mover, but he’s really gotten to where he can go right in and jump all eight jumps the same,” he remarked. “He used to tend to try too hard once or twice on course, and he’s really evened it all out.”
Geitner credits Schlaeppi for buying hunters for him to ride since Schlaeppi no longer competes, but also that they are horses that can stay in the barn.
“We all dream about these moments, and we sell a lot of horses,” he expressed. “Being able to get the ride on one and keep one, it’s pretty special.”
